Step-ladder and parts thereof.



, 1. s: TILLEY}, STEP LADDER AND PARTS THEREOF.

'APPLIOITION FILED JAN.13.1906.

PATENTEDJULY 24], 19,06.

JOHN S. TILLEY, OF- WATERVLIET, NEW YORK.

STEP-LADDER AND PARTS THEREOF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24,1906.

Application filed January 13, 1906. Serial No. 295.927.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHNS. TILLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watervliet, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders and Parts Thereof, of which the following is a s ecification, reference being had therein to t e accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in step-ladders and parts thereof, and has for its object the provision of improved braces or knees ada ted to help in supporting the ste s between the sides of the ladder and for rigid y fastening and bracing said steps and sides at their points of juncture.

A convenient embodiment of the invention comprises an integral bracket or knee having a orizontal part adapted to underlie the step of the ladder and pass through the side thereof, an upwardly-projecting part adapted to pass through said step, and a brace extending in an approximate y diagonal direction from the inner end of said horizontal or underlying art down to the inner face of the side of the adder and terminating at a point occupying a plane intersecting the horizontal part intermediate the ends of the latter. This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and the novel details in the construction and arrangements of the several parts thereof will be apparent fi'om an ins ection of said drawings, 1n connection with t e detailed description hereinafter contained.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ladder. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view, parts bein broken away to show the manner of appfying the knee or brace; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the brace unattached.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding arts in the several views, A A represent t e side bars of the ladder, which may be of any approved type, and B the steps thereof seated at their ends in suitable grooves bin the inner faces of the ladder sides, suitable nails or other fastening devices a passing through said sides and into the steps to secure them together.

Beneath each of the steps and at each end thereof I provide one of my improved knees or brackets, the latter comprising a horizontally-disposed part 0, adapted to underlie and support the step, said part being of sufficient length to pass through the side of the ladder and be riveted of upon a washer c, an approximately vertically-disposed part D at the inner end of the part 0, adapted to roject upwardly through the step B and siml arly riveted at the to of the step upon a washer d, and a diagona l disposed downwardly and outwardly projecting brace E, arran ed to project from a point near the inner emf of the horizontal art 0, but preferably not directly beneath the vertical extension D, to the inner face of the side A of the ladder or a point occupying a plane intersectin the horizontal art 0 intermediate the en s of the latter, t elower extremity of this brace E being offset and perforated to form a foot e for the reception of a secured nail or screw F, passed therethrough and embedded in the side A. This brace not only serves as an additional tie betweenthe step and side bar and brace for supporting the step, but also effectually prevents any lateral lay or rocking of the horizontal and vertical parts C and D in any direction, the tendency of which is to loosen the riveted ends thereof.

' By placing the diagonal brace slightly back from the ste part D a suitable support can be placed belbw the end to enable the upper end of the part D to be riveted over. It will also be noticed that in the construction the inner end of the part 0, which constitutes a shoulder, serves as a point upon which to rest the knee when the outer end of the part C is being riveted over. It is essential that in making the connections between the sides and steps of a ladder the joint should be made very tight and one which would not have a tendency to become loosened. By the riveting method as described this tight 'oint is readily effected. In connecting the lower end of the members E to the side of the ladder it will be noticed that as the fastener F is passed transversely throu h the side A of the ladder the tendency will be to draw the end of the brace close onto the ladder side, thus serving to bind the parts all firmly together. This is an important characteristic of the invention.

What I claim is 1. A knee for ladders comprising a horizontal supporting part having an upwardly-pro jecting part designed to be secured to the step of the ladder, and a diagonal brace on the horizontal part connected thereto at a at the outer face there point laterally to one side of the plane of the vertical part.

2. In a ladder, the combination withsides and steps, of a knee comprising a horizontal 5 supporting part having its outer end secure-d to the side, an'upwardlyextending art at its end secured in the step, a diagona brace secured to and extending from a point back from the end of the horizontal part, and means for securin the lower end of the brace to the side of the adder.

3. In a stepladder, the combination with the side and step, of a knee comprising a horizontal part having its end passing through and riveted at the outer face of the side of t e ladder, a vertical art on the horizontal part extending throug the step and having its upper end riveted, and a diagonal brace secured to the horizontal part on a plane at one side of the vertical part and having a fastening meansat its lower end for securing the same to theside of the ladder.

4. In a step-ladder, the combination with the side and step, of a knee comprising a hori- 5. In a ladder, the combination with a side,.

and step, of a knee comprising a horizontal supporting part havinglits outer end passing intoand secured to t e side and having a shouldered inner end, of a vertically-extendmg securing part on the horizontal part, an inclined brace on the horizontal part extend ing toward the side, and means for securing the lower end of the brace fixedly to the side.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. TILLElY.

v Witnesses:

THos. R. HEATH, Jos. H. MILANs. 

